“Your Grace.”
After saying hello, Jean hesitated and added.
“The Commander is inside.”
“I know.”
In response, Adrian started walking past him.
Clicking his tongue inward, Jean said to Adrian.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but make-up.”
Adrian stopped and looked back at him. After glancing at the door behind him, Adrian started walking again, and Jean quickly followed behind him.
“Your Grace.”
“That’s enough.”
He raised his hand to stop him but Jean only squinted his eyes.
“Listen to what I mean-.”
“Because we don’t need a third-party opinion.”
Jean’s voice grew sharp.
“Am I a third party?”
“Aren’t you?”
Adrian stopped and looked back at Jean. He didn’t look angry, he didn’t ridicule Jean or had a serious face to call his attention.
He spoke in his usual soft voice.
“In my relationship with Nina, you are the third party.”
Jean was momentarily speechless but sighed soon after.
“I crossed the line.”
“No need for apologies.”
Saying that Adrian started walking again. He felt a gaze from behind but ignored it.
It was Adrian who was most shocked by Nina’s avoidance. No, he was better off being avoided by her. Every time Nina cautiously peeked at him, it felt like something was falling apart little by little.
He liked her smile the most. But when she’s next to him, she doesn’t smile anymore.
When his head cooled down, he found out he was angry with Nina, unlike his usual self.
It wasn’t Fiona, nor Edgar, who hurt her.
It was himself.
He was expecting something to happen. Because, until now everything was very easy.
As they brought Edgar over to the Silver Lake, he thought that he wouldn’t take his eyes off him. Adrian thought he was released from mind control too easily. It was too light if compared to Lucrezia’s obsession.
Even so, what’s the point of thinking that now?
His stomach churned.
Adrian stopped. Before he knew it, he was out in the garden.
The teeming autumn garden was now painted in beautiful harmonic colors with red fruits, colored leaves, and trees remaining evergreen between them.
Although it was a sight to be admired, there was no emotion in his heart.
He hoped Nina was happy.
He was happy to just have her by his side.
He thought so. Until he fell in love with her.
Finally crossing the line, he caught her in his hands.
Knowing the pleasure of being the closest, knowing the joy of being her special one, tasting her flesh, looking into the deep desires in her eyes, and spending a sweet time together.
Even if Nina is unhappy.
‘I can’t let her go.’
I don’t feel like letting her go. Rather, it was filled with only the desire to hold her tightly in his hands and never open his palms.
Adrian was afraid of himself like that.
He would always remember the dream where he stabbed Nina as if that was going to protect her.
‘Is my essence unchanged?’
He was out of breath and closed his eyes tightly. A despondent laugh flowed out.
It’s been only two days.
He was trembling and collapsing like this after only two days of not seeing her.
‘Calm down, Adrian R. Luverne’
Taking a long breath, he turned around.
‘Anyway, I have to apologize to Nina.’
I need to change the situation.
But right in front of him was Nina. The moment he turned around, he almost bumped into her.
Surprised, he stepped back.
Nina looked up at him with an awkward face.
“Hi.”
And said a small and quiet hello.
Adrian somehow remembered the day he saw Nina for the first time. That day, the moonlight rolled inside his dark room from the window.
That day, that moment.
As she pulled the curtains on his life and opened all the doors. The day the darkness was lifted and a ray of light fell on his life.
‘I’ll be damned.’
Adrian laughed.
Is it possible to fall in love with the same person twice? How many times will he fall for her?
It wasn’t like she said or did something great to him.
It was just one word, ‘Hello’.
Like this, her way of casually walking inside his life.
Adrian’s smile made her eyes round. Even that was lovely. He politely asked.
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Great.”
Adrian reached out to her, and Nina grabbed it. The hand that was holding her twisted slightly, and his finger came in between hers. The moment when they slowly overlapped their palms, the warmth of clasping hands came sweetly.
Adrian tightened his grip on his hand.
“Adrian-.”
He raised his hand to stop Nina.
“Let me apologize first.”
Nina closed her mouth.
“I’m sorry for kissing you like that. I shouldn’t treat you that way, and I shouldn’t handle our relationship like that. Because I can’t just do anything that comes to mind to release my emotions. So obviously it’s my fault. Sorry.”
“Yes.”
Nina nodded her head slightly.
“I’m sorry for telling you to be angry with me too, I was not being considerate of Adrian.”
It was so blatant that it was embarrassing, but Adrian laughed because it was so Nina-like.
He spoke quietly.
“It’s okay to go see Miss Fiona.”
“Really?”
“Yes, actually, I thought you were going to climb through the window without me knowing and go to meet her.”
“Well, that may be the case, usually.”
Nina moaned and shyly said.
“But, I thought Adrian would feel bad about that. I didn’t want it to happen. Fiona is important too, but Adrian is the most precious.”
Nina mumbled, and Adrian exhaled.
Maybe he wanted to hear this.
Am I as precious to you as you are to me?
“Then you can go see her now.”
Nina nodded at his words and Adrian asked again to confirm.
“Is your body okay?”
“Yeah, I was actually trying to lure you to go swimming.”
Adrian’s expression darkened. A person whose heart had just barely healed wants to swim in this season?
“Oh, I thought you would make a face like that.”
Nina shook her head, saying, “I should get a letter with permission from Kirill.”
“I won’t accept it.”
Saying that Adrian raised his gaze. Under the sunlight, the garden shone very splendidly unlike before. Until he made up with Nina, he thought that it was nothing much, even thinking about it again, how shallow he was.
“Nina.”
“Yes.”
“I missed you.”
Nina laughed.
“Me too! It’s only been two days.”
“It was a lot more shocking than what I expected.”
“Was it?”
Adrian nodded at Nina’s remarks of not even thinking about it. With a bewildered look, she said.
“I was wondering if I pushed Adrian too hard.”
Adrian glanced at Nina.
“Because we are so close, I thought there were times when we needed distance.”
Adrian replied softly, “I see what you mean.”
“But, even if we keep a distance.”
Nina grabbed his hand tightly.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
It was said with a playful smile, but Adrian couldn’t laugh well.
“Yes.”
He only replied in a small voice.
Countless kind hands, friendly words. However, in the end, everyone left.
When the opera was over and the curtain came down, all the lights went out and everyone left, but he couldn’t go.
He was left alone behind that dark stage.
He looked at Nina. As he stared into her unshakable golden eyes, he said with strength.
“I know, Nina.”
“Your Grace.”
After saying hello, Jean hesitated and added.
“The Commander is inside.”
“I know.”
In response, Adrian started walking past him.
Clicking his tongue inward, Jean said to Adrian.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but make-up.”
Adrian stopped and looked back at him. After glancing at the door behind him, Adrian started walking again, and Jean quickly followed behind him.
“Your Grace.”
“That’s enough.”
He raised his hand to stop him but Jean only squinted his eyes.
“Listen to what I mean-.”
“Because we don’t need a third-party opinion.”
Jean’s voice grew sharp.
“Am I a third party?”
“Aren’t you?”
Adrian stopped and looked back at Jean. He didn’t look angry, he didn’t ridicule Jean or had a serious face to call his attention.
He spoke in his usual soft voice.
“In my relationship with Nina, you are the third party.”
Jean was momentarily speechless but sighed soon after.
“I crossed the line.”
“No need for apologies.”
Saying that Adrian started walking again. He felt a gaze from behind but ignored it.
It was Adrian who was most shocked by Nina’s avoidance. No, he was better off being avoided by her. Every time Nina cautiously peeked at him, it felt like something was falling apart little by little.
He liked her smile the most. But when she’s next to him, she doesn’t smile anymore.
When his head cooled down, he found out he was angry with Nina, unlike his usual self.
It wasn’t Fiona, nor Edgar, who hurt her.
It was himself.
He was expecting something to happen. Because, until now everything was very easy.
As they brought Edgar over to the Silver Lake, he thought that he wouldn’t take his eyes off him. Adrian thought he was released from mind control too easily. It was too light if compared to Lucrezia’s obsession.
Even so, what’s the point of thinking that now?
His stomach churned.
Adrian stopped. Before he knew it, he was out in the garden.
The teeming autumn garden was now painted in beautiful harmonic colors with red fruits, colored leaves, and trees remaining evergreen between them.
Although it was a sight to be admired, there was no emotion in his heart.
He hoped Nina was happy.
He was happy to just have her by his side.
He thought so. Until he fell in love with her.
Finally crossing the line, he caught her in his hands.
Knowing the pleasure of being the closest, knowing the joy of being her special one, tasting her flesh, looking into the deep desires in her eyes, and spending a sweet time together.
Even if Nina is unhappy.
‘I can’t let her go.’
I don’t feel like letting her go. Rather, it was filled with only the desire to hold her tightly in his hands and never open his palms.
Adrian was afraid of himself like that.
He would always remember the dream where he stabbed Nina as if that was going to protect her.
‘Is my essence unchanged?’
He was out of breath and closed his eyes tightly. A despondent laugh flowed out.
It’s been only two days.
He was trembling and collapsing like this after only two days of not seeing her.
‘Calm down, Adrian R. Luverne’
Taking a long breath, he turned around.
‘Anyway, I have to apologize to Nina.’
I need to change the situation.
But right in front of him was Nina. The moment he turned around, he almost bumped into her.
Surprised, he stepped back.
Nina looked up at him with an awkward face.
“Hi.”
And said a small and quiet hello.
Adrian somehow remembered the day he saw Nina for the first time. That day, the moonlight rolled inside his dark room from the window.
That day, that moment.
As she pulled the curtains on his life and opened all the doors. The day the darkness was lifted and a ray of light fell on his life.
‘I’ll be damned.’
Adrian laughed.
Is it possible to fall in love with the same person twice? How many times will he fall for her?
It wasn’t like she said or did something great to him.
It was just one word, ‘Hello’.
Like this, her way of casually walking inside his life.
Adrian’s smile made her eyes round. Even that was lovely. He politely asked.
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Great.”
Adrian reached out to her, and Nina grabbed it. The hand that was holding her twisted slightly, and his finger came in between hers. The moment when they slowly overlapped their palms, the warmth of clasping hands came sweetly.
Adrian tightened his grip on his hand.
“Adrian-.”
He raised his hand to stop Nina.
“Let me apologize first.”
Nina closed her mouth.
“I’m sorry for kissing you like that. I shouldn’t treat you that way, and I shouldn’t handle our relationship like that. Because I can’t just do anything that comes to mind to release my emotions. So obviously it’s my fault. Sorry.”
“Yes.”
Nina nodded her head slightly.
“I’m sorry for telling you to be angry with me too, I was not being considerate of Adrian.”
It was so blatant that it was embarrassing, but Adrian laughed because it was so Nina-like.
He spoke quietly.
“It’s okay to go see Miss Fiona.”
“Really?”
“Yes, actually, I thought you were going to climb through the window without me knowing and go to meet her.”
“Well, that may be the case, usually.”
Nina moaned and shyly said.
“But, I thought Adrian would feel bad about that. I didn’t want it to happen. Fiona is important too, but Adrian is the most precious.”
Nina mumbled, and Adrian exhaled.
Maybe he wanted to hear this.
Am I as precious to you as you are to me?
“Then you can go see her now.”
Nina nodded at his words and Adrian asked again to confirm.
“Is your body okay?”
“Yeah, I was actually trying to lure you to go swimming.”
Adrian’s expression darkened. A person whose heart had just barely healed wants to swim in this season?
“Oh, I thought you would make a face like that.”
Nina shook her head, saying, “I should get a letter with permission from Kirill.”
“I won’t accept it.”
Saying that Adrian raised his gaze. Under the sunlight, the garden shone very splendidly unlike before. Until he made up with Nina, he thought that it was nothing much, even thinking about it again, how shallow he was.
“Nina.”
“Yes.”
“I missed you.”
Nina laughed.
“Me too! It’s only been two days.”
“It was a lot more shocking than what I expected.”
“Was it?”
Adrian nodded at Nina’s remarks of not even thinking about it. With a bewildered look, she said.
“I was wondering if I pushed Adrian too hard.”
Adrian glanced at Nina.
“Because we are so close, I thought there were times when we needed distance.”
Adrian replied softly, “I see what you mean.”
“But, even if we keep a distance.”
Nina grabbed his hand tightly.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
It was said with a playful smile, but Adrian couldn’t laugh well.
“Yes.”
He only replied in a small voice.
Countless kind hands, friendly words. However, in the end, everyone left.
When the opera was over and the curtain came down, all the lights went out and everyone left, but he couldn’t go.
He was left alone behind that dark stage.
He looked at Nina. As he stared into her unshakable golden eyes, he said with strength.
“I know, Nina.”
